Propulsion machine



G. S. NELSON PROPULSION MACHINE Fig. 1

Filed March 21, 1954 4 INVENTOR All/Ill/llldill f r Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED sTAres PATENT OFF-16E PROPULSION MACHINE George S. Nelson, Salt Lake City, Utah Application March 21, 1934, Serial No. 716,573

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for inducing a flow of water thru a tube.

One object of the invention is to provide a simpler, more eflicient, and more reliable machine for propelling any object, such as a boat,

thru a liquid;

Another object is to provide a machine for inducing a flow of water thru a pipe system.

These and other objects will be made more apparent upon reading the following description.

A further object is to provide a simple machine for propelling a boat thru a liquid without the use of a screw propeller, pistons, gears, electric ignition system, water cooling system, or clutch,

and without the mechanical losses attending these devices.

The present usual method of forcing a liquid thru a pipe systemis to connect a pump in the system and provide a powerunit for the pump.

This, as well as the usual methods of propelling a boat, requires gears, bearings, and many moving parts, and thru them as well as thru the agitating action of the pump upon the water, much energy is wasted. The present invention provides a more efficient, and longer lasting machine for this purpose.

I attain the objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which, 7

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section thru a propulsion machine and a boat.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section thru the main working parts of a steam propul sion machine. Figure 3 is a section of the upper portion of pump 7, taken at right angles to the section shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows an alternate machine wherein an elevated fuel tank is used instead of a fuel pump. 7 g

Similar numbers refer to similar parts thruout the several views. 7 V

l is a handle connected to arms 2. 3 is a catch for arms 2. 4 is a spring connecting arms 2 to 45 plunger 5 in fuel pump 1. 4! is a drain cock in tube it. 32 and 53 are parts'of the fuel intake valve to pu'mp l. 4!] is a plunger disposed near the bottom of pump compression chamber 52 and M is a valve at the top of said chamber. Valve M is independent of plunger except that the stem of valve il may be inserted in a cylindrical hole in theupper portion of plunger 40 so as to hold and ll in line. That is to say either valve ll or plunger at may move without causing the other to move.

chamber 6.

Tube 8 joins chamber 6 of pump 1 to the fuel distributor 21 which supplies burners 24 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Valve 9 connects in tube 8.

Explosion chamber 2i in Figure 2 is provided with fins 23 and connects to propulsion tube 39. 5 Gate, or valve, 28 is disposed at the junction as shown. Curved tube l8 leads from tube 30 to valve 5? which leads to chamber 2! thru tube l9. Gone 20 is preferably placed near the outlet of tube i9 where it enters chamber 2|. containing valve 33 connects reservoir 36 to chamber 2i. Burners 2G and fins 23 are preferably covered by hood 2%, having an exhaust 25. it to 55 inclusive show apparatus for controlling valves 9 and ll; Tube 22 connects work chamber 15 5| to explosion chamber 2|.

When the propulsion machine is not in use handle 5 may be used to release arms 2 from notches 3, and then raised to release the tension I in spring l, thereby releasing the pressure on the 20 liquid fuel in chamber 6. Catches 3 are attached to the wallsof pump 1 and are preferably notched as shown, to receive the ends of arms 2 to which spring 4 and handle I are attached as shown.

The act of raising piston 5 will draw fuel into 25 Then to prepare the machine for starting, arms 2 will be forced down below the level of catches 3, then turned and raised until properly seated in the position shown in the drawing. This action will compress the fuel in 30 chamber 6 and when valve 9 is opened by means such as pulling handle l5 out for a brief interval, fuel will flow tlnu tubes 8 to distributor 2'! and thence to burners 24 where it may be ignited. After burners 24 have become sufficiently heated 35 to gasify the liquid fuel that is fed to them,'valve 9 may be kept continuously open to any desired degree to permit fuel to flow to the flame that heats the explosion chamber 2!. Fins 23 are preferably used to more effectively transfer the 40 heat from the flame to the walls of the explosion chamber 2!. After chamber 2! has become sufficiently heated the engine is ready to start, and starting is accomplished by pulling starter handle 38 rearward for a short interval and then returning it to its original position. This action will cause connecting rod 35 to turn valve handle 34 and thereby open valve 33 long enough for the desired quantity of water to flow from reservoir 36, thru tube 52, into explosion chamber 2|, where the heated walls of the chamber will suddenly transform the water into steam. This steam will forcibly eject most of the water from propulsion tube 38 in a backward direction. But as soon as the steam pressure becomes released by expan- Tube 52, 10

sion, and by cooling due to contact with the cool water, gate 28, which turns on pivot 50, will be forced to open by the inrushing water, to some position such as indicated by 29, and a new supply of water will be drawn into tube 30.

Part of this water will enter tube l8, and when valve I! is open said water will travel thru tube E9 to explosion chamber 2| where it will be sprayed onto the heated walls of said chamber by means such as cone 20. The steam generated by this heat will again eject the water out thru the rear end of tube 30, and then draw a new supply in thru the forward end, part of which will be carried to the explosion chamber as before. The repetition of this action will continuously draw water into the forward end of tube 35 and then rapidly eject it at the rear end, thereby propelling the boat forward. Clearly each explosion in chamber 2| will close gate 28 against any forward water flow.

Once at each explosion piston 40 of the fuel pump T will be successively raised and lowered until the pressure in pressure chamber 6 is raised to equal the maximum steam pressure in chamber 2|. To explain in more detail, an explosion in chamber 2| will force steam thru tube 22 to work chamber 5|, (which will preferably be filled with oil) and piston 40 will be forced upward, thereby forcing the fuel in compression chamber 52 past valve 4| into pressure chamber 6. Then when the pressure in explosion chamber 2| becomes relieved, piston 40 will drop, valve 4| will close, and the pressure of the liquid fuel in tank 45, flowing down thru tube 44, will cause valve 62 to open, and the fuel will flow into chamber 52. When piston 45 ceases to drop, spring 43 will close valve 42 and the next explosion in chamber 2| will again force the fuel from chamber 52 to chamber 6. Clearly the pressure in chamber 6 will be constantly maintained approximately equal to the maximum steam pressure in chamber 2| and a constant supply of compressed liquid fuel will be stored in chamber 6.

The action of the fuel pump may be further explained as follows. Valve 4| is independent of plunger 45, as far as vertical action is concerned. The stem of valve 4| is preferably inserted into a cylindrical shaped structure over plunger 45, as shown, merely for the purpose of aligning said valve and plunger. When plunger 40 is forced upward the liquid from 52 is forced past valve 4| into chamber 6. Valve 4| will open only far enough to permit the liquid to pass, regardless of the range of action of plunger 45, and valve 4| will close of its own weight if given time. In any event any tendency of the liquid to return through valve 4| will close said valve immediately.

Under some circumstances the fuel tank might be elevated to such a position that gravity will furnish the desired pressure on the fuel at the burner. In such a case the fuel pump 1, and tube 22 might be omitted from the machine, and tube 44 be joined to tube 8.

Clearly the amount of heat, and therefore the quantity of fuel, required will be in proportion to the quantity of water evaporated in chamber 2|.

The proper ratio between these quantities may be maintained by connecting levers i5 and i2 which control valves 9 and El respectively. Link H is preferably used for this purpose, and may be provided with adjusting means such as holes 53. Link H is also connected to one end of link l3, the other end of link |5 being attached to throttle handle l5. Link I3 is preferably provided with means such as notches |4 that engage a tooth such as 54, disposed in the upper portion of dash board l6, thereby locking link l3 in any desired position.

The rapidity of the explosions in chamber 2|, 5

and the speed of the boat, will respond immediately to any movement of throttle l5.

The hot gases from burners 24 will be retained within the desired limits by means such as hood 26 which may be fireproofed and insulated as 10 desired. Used gases will escape thru exhaust vent 25.

Drain cock 4! may be op ned at any time to drain off, thru 48, any fuel that may have passed piston 5.

Metal plates 3| and 32 are preferably used for attaching tubes 39 to the hull 49 of the boat, and plate 3| also provides watertight means for chambers 2| to pass thru hull 49 and join tubes 30.

Caps 46 and 41 are preferably used on the fuel reservoir 45 and the water reservoir 36 respec-' tively.

A removable cover 39 is preferably attached to tube 30 in the position shown, to permit the insertion of cleaning tools into explosionchamber 2|.

The simplicity of this machine is apparent. Its moving parts consist only ofa few valves and gates. There are no gears, and no electric ignition system is required. When once the machine is set in proper working order no future adjustments should be necessary.

It is efficient because there are no gears, or screw propellers to absorb energy, and because the heat-energy of the steam or gas is used so completely by rapidly expanding it from an initial high pressure to a final very low pressure, the energy therefrom being used all the while to propel the boat; or to force water thru a pipe system as the case may be. It is efficient because it forces water continuously backward without any churning, or lost sidewise motion, or without loss due to pitting forces in opposition to one another.

It is not my intention to limit this device to the particular form shown, nor to limit it to use in boats. Other uses, such as a machine for induc ing a flow of water in a pipe system, will suggest themselves, and will be natural adaptations of this machine.

I am aware that, prior to my present invention, 5 propulsion machines have been devised that utilized a compressed gas acting against a water surface. I therefore do not claim such a machine broadly, but

I claim:

1. In a propulsion machine, a propulsion tube, an explosion chamber connected to the propulsion tube at a spaced distance from the outlet end thereof, a gate disposed substantially below the junction of the propulsion tube and the forward wall of the explosion chamber, a water feed tube having its intake end inserted thru the propulsion tube at an angle thereto substantially at the junction of the rear wall of the explosion chamber and the wall of the propulsion tube, said water feed tube being connected at its outlet end to the explosion chamber, a starter tube connected at one end to a water reservoir and at its other end to the explosion chamber, a valve connected in the starter tube whereby the flow of water in said tube might be regulated, a fuel supply tube and a valve connected therein, a valve connected in the water feed tube, a fuel burner attached to the fuel supply tube and disposed substantially below the explosion chamber.

, 2. In a propulsion machine, a propulsion tube, an explosion chamber connected to the propulsion tube at a spaced distance from the outlet end thereof, a gate disposed substantially below the junction of the propulsion tube and the forward wall of the explosion chamber, a water feed tube having its intake end inserted thru the propulsion tube at an angle thereto substantially at the junction of the rear wall of the explosion chamber and the wall of the propulsion tube, said water feed tube being connected at its outlet end to the explosion chamber, means whereby a small quantity of water might be injected into the heated explosion chamber at any time, a fuel pump having a work chamber, and a tube connecting said work chamber to the explosion chamber, a fuel burner whereby the explosion chamber is heated, a fuel tube connecting the fuel pump to the burner, and a valve connected in said tube, whereby the fiow of fuel in said tube is regulated.

3, In a propulsion machine, a propulsion tube, an explosion chamber connected to the propulsion tube at a spaced distance from the outlet end thereof, a gate disposed substantially below the junction of the propulsion tube and the forward wall of the explosion chamber, a water feed tube having its intake end inserted thru the propulsion tube at an angle thereto substantially at the junction of the real wall of the explosion chamber and the wall of the propulsion tube, said water feed tube being connected at its outlet end to the explosion chamber, a fuel burner whereby the explosion chamber is heated, a fuel reservoir, a tube connecting the fuel reservoir to the burner, and

a valve connected in said tube, whereby the flow of fuel therein is regulated.

4. In a propulsion machine, a propulsion tube, an explosion chamber connected to the propulsion tube at a spaced distance from the outlet end thereof, a gate disposed substantially below the junction of the propulsion tube and the forward Wall of the explosion chamber, a water feed tube having its intake end inserted thru the propulsion tube at an angle thereto substantially at the junction of the rear wall of the explosion chamber and the wall of the propulsion tube, said water feed tube being connected at its outlet end to the explosion chamber, a fuel supply tube, and a fuel burner attached to the fuel supply tube.

5. A pump having a work chamber, a compression chamber, and a compression reservoir, a

power supply tube connecting the work chamber of said pump to an explosion chamber, an intake valve connected in a supply tube joining the compression chamber of the pump to a tank, a piston disposed between the work chamber and the compression chamber, an outlet valve for the compression chamber disposed between the compression chamber and the compression reservoir whereby fuel will be allowed to pass from the former to the latter, a piston disposed in one end of the compression chamber, means whereby said piston maybe pressed against the liquid in the pressure reservoir, a fuel supply tube connecting the pressure reservoir of the fuel pump to a fuel burner, an explosion chamber, a fuel burner disposed substantially below the explosion chamber, means whereby water may be injected periodically into the explosion chamber.

6. In a propulsion. machine, a propulsion tube, an explosion chamber connected to the propulsion tube at a spaced distance from the outlet end thereof, valvular means disposed substantially at the intake end of the propulsion tube, means whereby the explosion chamber is heated, and means whereby fluid is periodically injected onto the heated portions of the explosion chamber.

7. In a propulsion machine, a propulsion tube, an explosion chamber communicative therewith, valvular means whereby the flow in the propulsion tube is directed, means whereby the explosion chamber is heated, and means whereby fluid is periodically injected onto the heated portions of the explosion chamber.

8. A pump having a work chamber, a compression chamber, and a compression reservoir, a power supply tube connecting the work chamber of said pump toan explosion chamber, an intake valve connected in a supply tube joining the compression chamber of the pump to a tank, a piston disposed between the work chamber and the compression chamber, an outlet valve for the compression chamber disposed between the compression chamber and the compression reservoir whereby fuel will be allowed to pass from the former to the latter, a fuel supply tube connecting the pressure reservoir of the fuel pump to a fuel burner, an explosion chamber, a fuel burner, and means whereby a fluid may be injected periodically into the explosion chamber.

GEORGE s. NELSON. 

